Medical/biological study (observational study)

A Preliminary Study to Assess Possible Chromosomal Damage Among Users of Digital Mobile Phones med./bio.

By: Gadhia PK, Shah T, Mistry A, Pithawala M, Tamakuvala D

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2003; 22 (2-3): 149-159

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To assess chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchange frequencies among users who used digital mobile phones frequently for a maximum period of 4-5 hours a day, continuously for 2 years (non-smoker-nonalcoholic subjects and smoker-alcoholics). In addition blood samples were treated with the known mutagen mitomycin C to find out comutagenic/synergistic effect.

Endpoint

genotoxicity/mutation: chromosome damage

Exposure

- FDMA
- TDMA
- mobile communications
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 890–960 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: average 1 to 3 or 3 to 5 hours per day for at least 2 years	-

General information

48 individuals were selected for blood sample work-up. Half of the subjects selected used mobile phones over at least 2 years which employed GMSK modulations at uplink frequencies of 935 to 960 MHz and downlinks at 890 to 915 MHz and the other half served as control.

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	890–960 MHz
Exposure duration	average 1 to 3 or 3 to 5 hours per day for at least 2 years

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Pulse width	0.577 ms
Repetition frequency	217 Hz
Additional info	FDMA consisting of 124 channels, each channel has 200 kHz. Within 200 kHz, TDMA frame duration of 4.615 msec and burst period of 0.577 ms.

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone

Parameters

No parameters are specified for this exposure.

Exposed system:

blood samples
human

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: chromosomal damage in culture lymphocytes (chromosome aberration; metaphase analysis); sister chromatid exchange (second division metaphase analysis); Giemsa stain)
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell cycle replicative index (evaluation of first division metaphases, second division, and third divison metaphases)
effects on the immune system: hematological analysis (hemoglobin, total red blood cells, total white blood cells, total platelets)

Investigated system:

intact cell/cell culture
chromosomes

Investigated organ system:

immune system

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

There was a significant increase in dicentric chromosomes among mobile phone users who were smoker-alcoholic as compared to their controls; similarly, a significant increase in dicentric chromosomes was revealed in smoker-alcoholic mobile phone users in comparison to nonsmoker and nonalcoholic mobile phone users. After mitomycin C treatment of blood samples, there was a significant increase in dicentric chromosomes and ring chromosomes in both smoker-alcoholic and nonsmoker-nonalcoholic groups.

Study character:

medical/biological study
observational study
pilot/exploratory/preliminary study
blind study (slides were coded blind)

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Banerjee S et al. (2016): Analysis of the Genotoxic Effects of Mobile Phone Radiation using Buccal Micronucleus Assay: A Comparative Evaluation
Souza LCM et al. (2014): Assessment of nuclear abnormalities in exfoliated cells from the oral epithelium of mobile phone users
Ros-Llor I et al. (2012): Effect of mobile phones on micronucleus frequency in human exfoliated oral mucosal cells
Cam ST et al. (2012): Single-strand DNA breaks in human hair root cells exposed to mobile phone radiation
Bourthoumieu S et al. (2010): Cytogenetic Studies in Human Cells Exposed In Vitro to GSM-900 MHz Radiofrequency Radiation Using R-Banded Karyotyping
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Hansteen IL et al. (2009): Cytogenetic effects of exposure to 2.3 GHz radiofrequency radiation on human lymphocytes in vitro
Baohong W et al. (2007): Evaluating the combinative effects on human lymphocyte DNA damage induced by ultraviolet ray C plus 1.8 GHz microwaves using comet assay in vitro
Maes A et al. (2006): Cytogenetic investigation of subjects professionally exposed to radiofrequency radiation
Gandhi G et al. (2005): Genetic damage in mobile phone users: some preliminary findings
Gandhi G et al. (2005): Cytogenetic damage in mobile phone users: preliminary data